Flashing dad given chance to provide

A dad convicted of flashing at women while on his paper round has received a four-month suspended sentence.

Steven Lockyer, 24, had denied eight charges of indecent exposure and two public order offences during a trial at Reading Magistrates’ Court in July but had been found guilty.

However, at his sentencing on Wednesday, deputy district judge Julie Cooper ruled a jail sentence would not serve any purpose and that Lockyer needed help gaining qualifications and a job.

Lockyer, of Thurso Close, Tilehurst, had been working as a newspaper deliveryman when he committed the offences in West Reading between July and November 2009.

He had exposed himself while on his bike and sometimes standing by it, and had also used abusive language to girls aged between 12 and 16.

Lockyer’s defence had argued the offences could equally have been committed by his twin brother Michael who had also been under suspicion. Michael was initially arrested and was later identified by one victim in a video identity parade.

However, deputy district judge Ms Cooper found Steven Lockyer guilty of all charges on July 14.

Hanna van den Berg, defending, told the court on Wednesday: “Mr Lockyer currently doesn’t have a job and doesn’t have much education.

“He has been taking steps to get into employment and wishes to get back into education as he doesn’t have any GCSEs.

“He does have a small child and another one on the way.”

She added Lockyer had continued to live in the community where the incidents took place and he has not offended again since his arrest.

With Lockyer’s pregnant partner sitting in court, Ms Cooper said: “These offences do break the custody threshold but I don’t want to send you to prison for a number of reasons.”

She sentenced him to four months’ custody, suspended for 18 months, and gave him a 12-month supervision order with a three- month curfew banning him from leaving the house between 10pm and 7.30am.